On some issues, no debate is necessary, nor should it be entertained. Racism is wrong. Democracy is good. Taxes are necessary. Abuse is bad. Trump doesn’t know what he’s doing. And climate change is real.
MSNBC’s Chuck Todd acknowledged this fact by devoting his entire Meet the Press show on Sunday to discussing climate change. The terrifying rate at which climate change is destroying our planet is a subject far too many want to shy away from.
‘This morning, we’re going to do something that we don’t often get to do: dive in on one topic…[climate change is] a literally earth-changing subject that doesn’t get talked about this thoroughly, at least on television news.’
After a lot of criticism for hosting a debate about climate change that included one denier, Todd decided that his show needed to take a different approach. On Sunday, it’s what he didn’t do, however, that mattered.
‘Just as important as what we are going to do is what we’re not going to do. We’re not going to debate climate change, the existence of it. The earth is getting hotter and human activity is a major cause, period. We’re not going to give time to climate deniers. The science is settled even if political opinion is not.’
.@chucktodd during a special climate edition of @MeetThePress today: "We're not going to debate climate change, the existence of it … We're not going to give time to climate deniers. The science is settled, even if political opinion is not" https://t.co/MGRrPIJ6rE
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) December 30, 2018
Todd hosted a panel of lawmakers and public figures who have been outspoken on climate change, but not whether or not climate change exists, whether it threatens our planet, or what the causes are. Michael Bloomberg, Gov. Jerry Brown, and Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) all agreed that no one (which includes the current president) should “confuse weather with climate,” nor should we continue to debate whether or not the phenomenon is happening.
Curbelo, whose state is facing an underwater future with yearly floods and rising floodwaters, said:
‘We need to stop covering the debate and start covering the story so that people see that this is real, and so that politicians take a more pragmatic approach and find solutions that are actually achievable.’
Addressing climate change is an urgent challenge – and a great opportunity. I joined @ChuckTodd to discuss both. Watch now: https://t.co/6r2XnbOyWA
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) December 30, 2018
Governor Jerry Brown (D-CA), an active environmentalist who has spoken out on the need for reform to mitigate the effects of climate change, pointed out the disaster being made worse by President Trump.
‘[Trump] is very convinced of his position. And his position is that there’s nothing abnormal about the fires in California or the rising sea level or all the other incidents of climate change.’
Congratulations to Chuck Todd and Meet the Press for holding a serious discussion about climate change. Will this be a breakthrough moment for mainstream TV, which rarely discusses this issue? https://t.co/CDZ3xHw8Tj
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 30, 2018
It was an hour of real, honest discussions about the dangers that await us if we continue to ignore what’s happening without any of the ridiculous interjections of those who say they are not scientists, but still have a paid position on the subject.
See the full show below:
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
